Sometime after Jesus was born, wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem. They had studied ancient prophecies and observed a special star that signalled the birth of a great King. Following its guidance, they came seeking the promised Messiah.

They asked, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

When King Herod heard this, he was deeply troubled. Fearing a rival to his throne, he gathered the Jewish religious leaders and asked where the Messiah was to be born. They answered, “In Bethlehem,” according to the Scriptures.

Herod secretly met with the wise men and learned when the star had first appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Find the child and report back to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.” But Herod’s true intention was to destroy the child.

Guided once more by the star, the wise men arrived at the house where Jesus lived with Mary and Joseph. Filled with joy, they bowed down and worshiped Him. They presented precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, honouring Him as King, Priest, and Savior.

Afterward, God warned the wise men in a dream not to return to Herod, so they went home by another route.

That same night, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is searching for the child to kill Him.”

Joseph obeyed immediately. He took Mary and Jesus and departed for Egypt under the cover of darkness, where they remained until Herod’s death.

When Herod realized the wise men had not returned, he became furious and ordered the killing of the young boys in Bethlehem who were two years old and under. Yet God’s protection was upon Jesus, and His plan of salvation could not be stopped.